Two brokers clash on trust, pricing, and platforms. The tension centers on regulation breadth, cost structures, and asset coverage.
Saxo Bank edges tastytrade on editorial score, underpinned by stronger trust/regulation and a deeper multi-asset platform. tastytrade offers strong options pricing but its overall score trails.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you want multilingual support.
Choose tastytrade if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you want a large instrument pool. Choose tastytrade if you want no inactivity fee. Choose tastytrade if you want options-focused pricing.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Saxo Bank offers spreads from 0.60 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
Pros
Licensed bank (Denmark)
Best-in-class multi-asset platform
Tiered active-trader pricing
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Saxo Bank | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 and tastytrade rates 4.3/5. Saxo Bank has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Saxo Bank starts from 0.6 pips. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
Neither Saxo Bank nor tastytrade requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Saxo Bank and tastytrade hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, Saxo Bank provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Saxo Bank lists maximum leverage of 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Saxo Bank are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile, while tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO.
Saxo Bank wins for safety & regulation due to top-tier regulators and segregated client funds.
Saxo Bank wins for active traders with tiered pricing that rewards higher activity.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice with SaxoTraderGO/PRO and advanced charting.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety due to 71,000 instruments vs 10,000.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.7 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 2017 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | N/A |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $1/lot |
|---|
| N/A | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | N/A |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC ACPR CNMV MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet JFSA MFSA Finanstilsynet SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC | CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Cons
Higher minimums on classic accounts than ECN brokers
No MT4 / MT5
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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